Ash sidles up to me and whispers, “What happened to your boyfriend?”
I swallow hard. “Nothing.”
“Then what are we doing? Since when do you want extended time with LJ?”
“Ugh. I just needed to get out of there. Did you not feel the toxicity in that room?”
Ash grunts. “I wanted to conk Mom and Dad’s heads together. How hard would it’ve been for them to be civil? I never expected tonight to be worse than those video chat dinners we used to have.”
“I just hated everyone staring at me, waiting for me to say yes to LJ, or admit who I really want to be with. I can’t risk Dad finding out I’m still seeing Dax. He’s just getting better, and I don’t want any setbacks.”
Worry softens Ash’s expression. “What’s wrong with him?”
“I don’t really know. The doctor wanted to do further tests. But he’s had such a turnaround, and I won’t let anything ruin it. If a silly ice-cream date with LJ gets everyone off my back, I’m happy to do it.”
“Well, you certainly took everyone off guard,” Ash replies. “Especially LJ.”
“Once we’re off the estate, I’ll push more distance between us. I just had to sell it back there.”
Twenty-Four
Thankfully,onthejourneyinto town, I manage to keep space between LJ and me. I could’ve done without seeing my brother and his girlfriend cuddled up together, but I’ll take what I can get.
Christie is giddy when we enter the ice-creamery. The idea of a double date blurring how obvious it should be that LJ and I aren’t a real couple.
We move along the display and LJ stands too close for comfort. “Do you know what you’ll choose, sweetheart?”
My jaw tenses. “Can you lay off using that nickname?”
LJ sniggers and brushes the hair off my shoulder. “I could try, but it rolls off the tongue when I see you.”
Despite the fact Dax told him I hate hearing the nickname, it’s like talking to a brick wall. When the server approaches, I quickly ask for a scoop of butterscotch cream with a scoop of toffee chocolate swirl, and move to a nearby table as the other three order.
I plonk down on a chair and let my head fall into my hands.I’m such an idiot. Being here doesn’t feel worth it.
LJ pulls out the adjacent chair. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
Again with the nickname?
Ugh!
I lift my head and straighten up. “Nothing, I’m fine.”
Ash pulls out a chair for Christie and smirks at me. “You’re not bailing already, are you? You’re the reason we’re all here.”
“I’m not bailing,” I reply as he sits opposite me. “I just had a sudden headache, that’s all. But it’s gone now.”
His smug smile doesn’t budge. “Good, because I’d hate for you to fail your epic plan.”
“Ice-cream is delicious,” Christie says, “but I’d hardly call this epic.”
I smile at her ignorance of the real plan.
“I bet it’s all that talk about the gala.” LJ squeezes my shoulder. “It can’t be easy organizing society events when differing opinions come at you.”
“It definitely isn’t,” Christie replies for me. “That’s why Mom and I sat out this round.”
“One of the smartest things you could do,” I reply.
